Massively

Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Wizardry Online is now... Wizardry Offline]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/01/wizardry-online-is-now-wizardry-offline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/01/wizardry-online-is-now-wizardry-offline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/01/wizardry-online-is-now-wizardry-offline/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Video, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items, Livestream, Wizardry Online, Sunsets

The MMO world mourned Vanguard's sunset yesterday, but as The Ancient Gaming Noob reminded us, Vanguard wasn't the only MMO SOE shuttered in July. Wizardry Online also closed its doors permanently last night, bringing to a end one of the stranger games SOE has published in its long career.

Over on the official forums, where players have been posting their goodbyes, a player named Dremlock published a video of the game's last moments. We've included it below (start at about 1:29:00 to see the final curtain call).

Continue reading Wizardry Online is now... Wizardry Offline

Wizardry Online is now... Wizardry Offline originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuregamepothardcoreopen-pvppermadeathpkplayer-killingpvpsir-techsoesony-online-entertainmentsunsetsunsetswizardrywizardry-onlineFri, 01 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: A final farewell to Vanguard as it sunsets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/31/the-stream-team-a-final-farewell-to-vanguard-as-it-sunsets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/31/the-stream-team-a-final-farewell-to-vanguard-as-it-sunsets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/31/the-stream-team-a-final-farewell-to-vanguard-as-it-sunsets/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Vanguard, Free-to-Play, Events (Massively's Coverage), Livestream, The Stream Team, Sunsets

It's finally here: The end of the world. And that world is Vanguard's Telon. Tonight the game sunsets, and Massively's MJ will be there to wish it a fond farewell while celebrating all that's unique about it. She'll be sharing different Vanguard memories and inviting you to do the same. On top of that, there will be an end-of-the-world party that sails from continent to continent, ending at Ahgram with the biggest barge party. Join us live at 7:00 p.m. for the two-hour final farewell.

Game: Vanguard
Host: MJ Guthrie
Date: Thursday, July 31st, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: A final farewell to Vanguard as it sunsets

The Stream Team: A final farewell to Vanguard as it sunsets originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jul 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfinal-hoursfree-to-playgoodbyegoodbye-Vanguardlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvMJ-Guthrie-livestreammv-tvmvtvsandboxsoesonysony-online-entertainmentstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamsunsetsunsettingtelonthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgThu, 31 Jul 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: I'll miss you, Vanguard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/31/the-daily-grind-ill-miss-you-vanguard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/31/the-daily-grind-ill-miss-you-vanguard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/31/the-daily-grind-ill-miss-you-vanguard/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, PvE, Opinion, Vanguard, The Daily Grind, Crafting, Sunsets

Hey Vanguard.

I wish you could stay longer. Yeah, you've been hanging around my hard drive since 2007, but that first year was a mess. You launched right next to The Burning Crusade, which would have been the kiss of death even if you hadn't debuted with a bunch of bugs.

SOE eventually fixed you up, and the result was a niche and highly enjoyable MMO world of the kind that no one wants to make any more. You were vast, you were an explorer's dream and, stutter-step chunk lines notwithstanding, you were seamless. You had more races and classes than I can remember, though I will remember the Dread Knight and the Disciple quite fondly.

I wish more people had given you a whirl. I wish more devs would copy your crafting. I wish all MMO quests were as fun as that lengthy, lovely unicorn mount chase. I'll probably get in trouble for saying so, but I wish your labyrinthine code could've led to an emulator. Most of all, though, I wish you weren't leaving. You were the first themepark I actually enjoyed, and that's no small feat.

You will be missed.

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: I'll miss you, Vanguard originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playill-miss-you-vanguardopinionsandboxsoesonysony-online-entertainmentsunsettdgtelonthe-daily-grindvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvanguard-sunsetvanguard-will-be-missedvgThu, 31 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Visiting Vanguard before it's gone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/19/the-stream-team-visiting-vanguard-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/19/the-stream-team-visiting-vanguard-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/19/the-stream-team-visiting-vanguard-before-its-gone/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Vanguard, Free-to-Play, Livestream, The Stream Team, Sunsets

It's hard to see an old friend leave, so Massively's MJ is heading back into Vanguard to spend a little quality time with the title before it's gone. But don't think the visit will be all sadness and moping! There are still tons of dungeons to delve, landscapes to explore, and friends to reminisce with. Maybe there is a particular place you want to see or memories you want to share. Let us know! Join us live at 1:00 p.m. to be a part of this walk down memory lane that celebrates the world of Telon.

Game: Vanguard
Host: MJ Guthrie
Date: Saturday, July 19th, 2014
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Visiting Vanguard before it's gone

The Stream Team: Visiting Vanguard before it's gone originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jul 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingf2pfantasyfree-to-playlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvMJ-Guthrie-livestreammv-tvmvtvsandboxsoesonysony-online-entertainmentstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamsunsettelonthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgSat, 19 Jul 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Goodbye, Free Realms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/31/the-stream-team-goodbye-free-realms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/31/the-stream-team-goodbye-free-realms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/31/the-stream-team-goodbye-free-realms/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Video, Events (In-Game), Free-to-Play, Massively Meta, Hands-On, Free Realms, Livestream, The Stream Team, Sunsets, MMORPG

The Stream Team: Good-bye, Free Realms

Since 2009, Free Realms has entertained children and adults with go-kart racing, playing trading card games, and of course, being a ninja. Unfortunately, even the good MMOs must end. Join Massively's Larry Everett and his son at 7:30 p.m. EDT as they take one more lap around Free Realms and maybe catch one more demolition derby.

Game: Free Realms
Host: Larry Everett
Date: Monday, March 31st, 2014
Time: 7:30 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Goodbye, Free Realms

The Stream Team: Goodbye, Free Realms originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedconsoleconsolesf2pfrfree-realmsfree-to-playkid-friendlykidskids-mmolivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmv-tvmvtvplaystation-3playstation3ps3soesonysony-online-entertainmentstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamsunsetsunsetssunsettingthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvMon, 31 Mar 2014 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten things to do in Free Realms before it's gone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/12/ten-things-to-do-in-free-realms-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/12/ten-things-to-do-in-free-realms-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/12/ten-things-to-do-in-free-realms-before-its-gone/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Trading Card Games, Virtual Worlds, Free Realms, Family, Guides, Sunsets

Free Realms

Free Realms is set to close down at the end of this month, and despite the fact that the game is aimed toward players much younger than I am, I'm going to miss it.

When the game first launched, my two oldest daughters and I played religiously. It was an easy way for us to interact and play together when I was away, and they spent a sizable chunk of their allowances on pets, mounts, and housing items over the years.

So I've decided to honor Free Realms with this article detailing a few things you can do in the game before it's gone forever.

Continue reading Ten things to do in Free Realms before it's gone

Ten things to do in Free Realms before it's gone originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedclosureconsoleconsolesf2pfeaturedfrfree-realmsfree-to-playkid-friendlykidskids-mmoplaystation-3playstation3ps3soesonysony-online-entertainmentsunsetten-thingsWed, 12 Mar 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: The care and feeding of older MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/01/the-game-archaeologist-the-care-and-feeding-of-older-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/01/the-game-archaeologist-the-care-and-feeding-of-older-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/01/the-game-archaeologist-the-care-and-feeding-of-older-mmos/#commentsFiled under: Asheron's Call, Dark Age of Camelot, EverQuest, Guild Wars, Meridian 59, MMO Industry, Opinion, Ultima Online, Vanguard, Free Realms, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous, Sunsets

When an MMO has reached a certain age and dwindled to a certain player population, what do you do with it? Do you put it out to pasture, nurture it, or put it down?

With some of our older graphical MMOs approaching their 20th anniversaries, the question of what studios should do with aging titles is becoming very important. It's not just important for the games in question but as a precedent to the population of games that will one day become just as old.

Lately we've seen different studios act on this topic in a wide variety of ways, all of which I find fascinating. Some of these games have seen tragic ends, while others may be entering into the enjoyable golden years. If nothing else, it's shown me that there isn't just one set answer for this and that some devs are hoping to do the right thing by their companies and their players.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: The care and feeding of older MMOs

The Game Archaeologist: The care and feeding of older MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acanetarenanetasherons-callbiowarebroadswordbroadsword-online-gamescamelotclassicclassic-mmoclassic-mmosclassicsdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artseqeq1eqmaceqoaeverquesteverquest-online-adventuresf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-realmsfree-to-playgame-archaelogistglitchguild-warsgwmaintenance-modemeridian-59mythicmythic-entertainmentmythologynostalgiaopinionplayer-run-serverspvprvrsandboxsoesonysony-online-entertainmentsunsetthe-game-archaeologisttiny-speckturbineturbine-entertainmentultima-onlineuovanguardSat, 01 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How much would you pay to keep an MMO alive?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/25/the-daily-grind-how-much-would-you-pay-to-keep-an-mmo-alive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/25/the-daily-grind-how-much-would-you-pay-to-keep-an-mmo-alive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/25/the-daily-grind-how-much-would-you-pay-to-keep-an-mmo-alive/#commentsFiled under: Business Models, MMO Industry, Opinion, Vanguard, Free-to-Play, The Daily Grind

Vanguard

So here's something that bothers me about this whole SOE MMO armageddon thing. When CEO John Smedley took to Twitter to sympathize with upset Vanguard fans yesterday, he implied that the firm has done all it could to keep the long-running fantasy MMO afloat. "I realize the Vanguard players are upset," he tweeted. "We waited a long time to do this and ran it well past economic viability."

The phrase "past economic viability" is odd since SOE has literally been giving Vanguard away for nearly two years now. The other part of the equation that doesn't add up is why SOE -- or any other firm that insists on closing down a license-free MMO -- doesn't first reach out to the affected playerbase and offer them a chance to save the day.

It might go something like this. "Dear Vanguard player, we thank you for your support and we regret to inform you that the game is not doing well financially. In order to avoid shutting it down, we require you and every other current player to pay a $50 monthly subscription fee."

Sure, 50 bucks is an arbitrary number that I just made up and a large number for an MMO sub. But can anyone credibly state that loyal players wouldn't gladly pay $50 or more if it meant saving their game? How would we know since no MMO company can be bothered to try it? Which leads in to today's Daily Grind question. How much would you pay to keep your favorite MMO alive?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: How much would you pay to keep an MMO alive? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jan 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuref2pf2p-is-the-futurefantasyfree-to-playjohn-smedleypr-speaksandboxsoesonysony-online-entertainmentsunsettelonvanguardvanguard-closingvanguard-saga-of-heroesvanguard-sunsetvgyay-for-f2pSat, 25 Jan 2014 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest Mac shutting down (again)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/18/everquest-mac-shutting-down-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/18/everquest-mac-shutting-down-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/18/everquest-mac-shutting-down-again/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Free-to-Play, Sunsets

EverQuest Mac shutting down again

After a stay of execution last year, EverQuest Mac will be shut down on November 18th. SOE cited the need to devote its resources to upcoming games as a reason for the sunset.

"After much review and consideration, we have made the decision to sunset EverQuest Mac," the studio posted. "EQMac was originally scheduled to sunset in early 2012, but we kept the game up and running following the passionate feedback received from the community. As we align development resources towards our upcoming slate of games, we cannot justify the resources required to continue to support EQMac. The remaining EverQuest titles (EverQuest, EverQuest II, EverQuest Next, and EverQuest Next Landmark) will not be affected by this closure. We appreciate all of your contributions over the years and hope to see you in other EQ games."

SOE President John Smedley added his condolences: "Please know that this was not a decision that was taken lightly. It was a hard call to make, but we know it's the right thing to do."

EQMac is a Mac-only version of the game that's been effectively frozen in time since the Planes of Power expansion. You can read our history as well as veterans' stories of the title. The last EverQuest game to be shut down was EverQuest Online Adventures in March 2012.

EverQuest Mac shutting down (again) originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Oct 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingclosureeqeq1eqmaceverquesteverquest-2everquest-iieverquest-maceverquest-macintosheverquest-nexteverquest-next-landmarkf2pfantasyfree-to-playjohn-smedleyshut-downshutdownsoesonysony-online-entertainmentsunsetFri, 18 Oct 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-1/#commentsFiled under: Video, The Matrix Online, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Tabula Rasa, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous, Sunsets

The Perfect Ten Final moments of MMOs

Maybe many of us would just rather remember MMOs as they were in life rather than at the moment of their demise. But I believe that how a game went out is incredibly fascinating for many reasons and worthy of examination.

It's in these final moments when an entire community has to say goodbye. It's in these moments that the developers mourn as well before pulling the plug. It's in these moments that history is being made one last time. And it goes without saying that it's in these moments that everyone curses the unfairness of it all.

Today we're going to watch the first half of 10 videos featuring MMOs in their final moments. It's here we'll see how weird, crazy, sad, and interesting things can get. Maybe you were part of one (or more) of these moments or are simply curious what it was like. Either way, it's the end of the world as we know it. And we feel fine.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 1

The Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-mmocomposercomposersdungeon-runnerseqoaeverquest-online-adventuresfeaturedfinal-momentsgalaxiesgame-musicjukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettimmo-jukeboxmmo-musicmusicmxoopinionsandboxsci-fishutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentsoundtracksoundtracksstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgswgotabula-rasathe-matrix-onlineThu, 11 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bullet Run shutting down on March 8th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/bullet-run-shutting-down-on-march-8th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/bullet-run-shutting-down-on-march-8th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/bullet-run-shutting-down-on-march-8th/#commentsFiled under: News Items, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Miscellaneous

Screenshot -- Bullet Run

Sony Online Entertainment has announced the imminent closing of its short-lived multiplayer FPS, Bullet Run. In a post on the game's official forums, the studio announced that "after much review and consideration, Acony Games and Sony Online Entertainment have mutually made the decision to discontinue development on the free-to-play FPS game, Bullet Run."

SOE will be officially sunsetting the game on March 8th, 2013. Until that time, however, the servers will remain up-and-running for any players who want to have one last hoorah before the game takes its final bow. Membership billing, however, ended yesterday, February 1st. Any players who still had time on their Platinum Memberships as of that time will receive a "pro rata refund for any time remaining on [their] Bullet Run subscription[s]" from SOE. The full details can be found on the game's official forums, and we wish the best of luck to the game's dev team in its members' future endeavors.

[Thanks to Jack Pipsam for the tip!]

Bullet Run shutting down on March 8th originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acony-gamesbullet-runclosurefirst-person-shooterfpsmmofpsshutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentsunsetSat, 02 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: No game lives forever]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/#commentsFiled under: MMO Industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous

The Soapbox No game lasts forever 23

The lifespan of a video game is a funny thing. There are some games that have a definite end, yet you'd wish they'd last forever. These games measure life in replayability, run-through length, or multiplayer matches, but they lack permanence and persistence. Still, you can usually dust them off years from now and still have fun with them.

MMOs are a different breed, aren't they? They promise the inverse of the solo game, with a world that goes on, content that keeps flooding in, and the illusion that it will last forever. Yet when the switch is turned off, there's no going back. You can't pick it up 10 years from now and give it another go.

It's why the news that an MMO is closing up shop comes as such a devastating blow to many of us. As MMOs attempt to emulate the persistence of life, so too do they illustrate the finality of death.

Continue reading The Soapbox: No game lives forever

The Soapbox: No game lives forever originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-assaultcity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohcovcoxdeatheditorialf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgalaxieslego-universencsoftop-edopinionparagonparagon-studiosrantrantssandboxsci-fisoapboxsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsetssuperherosuperheroesswgswgotabula-rasathe-matrix-onlinethe-soapboxTue, 16 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do MMO sunsets kill your investment in other MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-sunsets-kill-your-investment-in-other-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-sunsets-kill-your-investment-in-other-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-sunsets-kill-your-investment-in-other-mm/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Free-to-Play, Massively Meta, The Daily Grind

Zentia

When Star Wars Galaxies' sunset was announced not much more than a year ago, it made me more than sad -- it made me distrustful. I knew that games had shut down before, but they were usually unlucky or unprofitable. In spite of the NGE, SWG maintained a healthy population for a second-gen MMO, and SOE was supporting it better than some studios support their current-gen games, so I fooled myself into thinking it'd be around forever like the rest of SOE's titles. And when I realized it wouldn't, my investment in other games fell off sharply. Why pour years into a world that can be ended arbitrarily before its time?

Zentia's impending closure brought that distrust to the surface again. Western audiences have a hard enough time adopting "foreign" games with funky localization and pay-to-win cash shops, so losing one of the best imports inspires no faith that other games will survive long enough to make an investment of time (and money) worth it.

What about you? Do MMO sunsets kill your desire to invest in other MMOs?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Do MMO sunsets kill your investment in other MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgchang-youchangyouclassic-mmoclosuredaily-grinddistrustf2pfantasyfree-to-playgalaxiesopinionpixel-softpvpsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindzentiaMon, 13 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is maintenance mode better than nothing at all?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/the-daily-grind-is-maintenance-mode-better-than-nothing-at-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/the-daily-grind-is-maintenance-mode-better-than-nothing-at-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/the-daily-grind-is-maintenance-mode-better-than-nothing-at-all/#commentsFiled under: Business Models, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Vanguard

In the last few years, long before rumors that Vanguard would be heading down the F2P path were confirmed, players groused about the state of the game, complaining that SOE was allowing the game to languish with no devs and no updates. Those were exaggerations, of course, but the players were vocal about their perceived neglect, throwing around dirty words like "abandonware," and worse, "maintenance mode" -- the idea that an MMO is just kept as is with no updates and only enough attention to keep the servers running.

Of course, players whose games were sunsetted entirely (Tabula Rasa, Asheron's Call 2, and The Matrix Online, to name a few) might have wished for maintenance mode rather than death. Getting no updates might suck, but at least you still have a game to play.

What say you -- is maintenance mode better than nothing at all?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Is maintenance mode better than nothing at all? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abandonwareac2asherons-call-2brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindmaintenance-modeopinionsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentsunsettabula-rasatdgthe-daily-grindthe-matrix-onlineTRvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesMon, 02 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest Online Adventures slays its final dragon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/everquest-online-adventures-slays-its-final-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/everquest-online-adventures-slays-its-final-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/everquest-online-adventures-slays-its-final-dragon/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Everquest Online Adventures, Consoles

EQOA

EverQuest Online Adventures, the console spinoff of SOE's EverQuest franchise, is counting down the hours until the server is switched off at midnight tonight. In addition to EQOA, SOE is shuttering three other underperforming titles today: Cosmic Rift, Infantry, and Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga.

Instead of spending its final days in sorrow, the EQOA community joined the dev team for a series of epic battles against marauding dragons this past week. Players have filled the forums with posts about their favorite in-game memories over the past nine years of gameplay. To compensate players for the loss of their game world, SOE gave EQOA subscribers three months of gold-level status in EverQuest and EverQuest II.

EQOA came out in 2003 on the PlayStation 2 and was one of the first generation of console MMOs. For those Massively readers feeling nostalgic or curious about it, definitely check out our series on the game: part 1, part 2, and part 3.

EverQuest Online Adventures slays its final dragon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancelclosureconsoleconsole-mmoCosmic-Rifteqeq-iieqoaeverquesteverquest-iieverquest-onlineeverquest-online-adventuresInfantryplaystation-2ps2soesony-online-entertainmentStar-Chamber-The-Harbinger-SagasunsetsunsettingThu, 29 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you game on a Mac?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-game-on-a-mac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-game-on-a-mac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-game-on-a-mac/#commentsFiled under: Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Mac, Humor, Miscellaneous

War. War never changes... the platform war, that is. But even those of us who game from the comfort of decked-out PCs can feel sorry for our Mac brethren when one of the Apple MMO offerings, already in short supply, goes dark. That's exactly what's happening to the Mac version of classic EverQuest: SOE is sunsetting the single Mac server due to low population and ancient code. Apple gamers must get a PC or sample one of the other Mac-friendly MMOs like Warhammer Online, Fallen Earth, Ryzom, or Free Realms.

So today we ask: Do you play MMOs on a Mac, and if so, which games? And is it really as bad as PC-loyalists like to think?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Do you game on a Mac? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindeqeq-maceverquesteverquest-macfallen-earthfree-realmsmacmac-mmoopinionpcplatform-warryzomsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentsunsettdgthe-daily-grindwarhammer-onlineSat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Culture, Events (In-Game)

EverQuest Mac

While many players are celebrating the announcement of EverQuest's upcoming free-to-play transition, there is one EQ community that was crushed by the news. The small but dedicated fanbase of EverQuest: Macintosh Edition found out that with F2P, EQMac and its one server would be sunsetted on the same date.

EQMac fans have begun to stage a campaign to save their favorite game, but it looks like there will be no budging SOE's mind on the matter. SOE President John Smedley took to the forums today to answer specific questions about the shutdown. "It breaks my heart to have to do this," he laments, before admitting that it's a done deal. Smedley cites the fact that the codebase is so ancient that only one SOE programmer knows how to work it, the player population is too small, and SOE was never that "proud" of the version.

However, Smedley promised that he will run a poll to see if there's enough interest in a Mac port of the current version of EverQuest. If the response is big enough, he says, the company will consider doing it. Meanwhile, the game will be available for current players free of charge until the March 29th shutdown. SOE has a celebration planned for its final hurrah.

EQMac came out in 2003 and was unique for remaining "frozen in time" in the years since, receiving no further active development or expansions. We will be covering this game and its shutdown more in-depth in a future Game Archaeologist column, so stay tuned.

EverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleeqeq-forumseqmaceverquesteverquest-macintosheverquest-macintosh-editionf2pforumsfree-to-playjohn-smedleymacmac-editionmac-portmac-versionpollshutdownsmedleysoeSony-Online-EntertainmentsunsetsunsettingTue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies bequeaths a memory book to fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/star-wars-galaxies-bequeaths-a-memory-book-to-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/star-wars-galaxies-bequeaths-a-memory-book-to-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/star-wars-galaxies-bequeaths-a-memory-book-to-fans/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Star Wars Galaxies, Giveaways

SWG

Still in mourning and/or shock over Star Wars Galaxies' sunset? Kicking yourself in your rear for never checking out the game while it was still alive? Then Sony Online Entertainment has one last gift for you: a Star Wars Galaxies memory book packed with the game's legacy.

And this isn't a brief "So long and thanks for all the fish" pamphlet, either. The memory book is a whopping 253 pages of information and screenshots documenting the title's eight-year run. Former players and MMO historians can expect to read up on the game's timeline, planet, species, professions, space, ships, housing, cities, the Galactic Senate, the trading card game, the Galactic Civil War, and "The End."

The book immortalizes the near-total Rebel victory in the game with these parting words:

The explosions marking the Empire's end could be seen across the galaxy in the skies above the planets, and the celebrations that followed were unmatched. Peace reigned as Star Destroyers and dark lords became memories of another era, of a time long past, of galaxies long gone.

Gone, but not forgotten.

You can view or download the entire PDF on the official site.

Star Wars Galaxies bequeaths a memory book to fans originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuregalactic-civil-warlegacymemoriesmemory-bookobligatory-hgttg-referencesoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-galaxies-memory-booksunsetswgswg-memory-bookThu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE's John Smedley expresses regrets over SWG mishaps]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/soes-john-smedley-expresses-regrets-over-swg-mishaps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/soes-john-smedley-expresses-regrets-over-swg-mishaps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/soes-john-smedley-expresses-regrets-over-swg-mishaps/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Interviews, Star Wars Galaxies, Free-to-Play

Star Wars Galaxies

Star Wars Galaxies may be no more, but its legacy lives on in memories, discussion, and hindsight analysis. Sony Online Entertainment's John Smedley had a frank talk with Industry Gamers in which he owns up to the mistakes of how the studio handled the title, particularly surrounding the much-maligned Combat Upgrade and New Game Enhancements.

What would Smedley do if he could go back and give it another try? His first regret is launching the game before the space combat system was done, and his second is that SOE didn't talk and listen to its players more. "We would have encouraged more in-depth discussion with the community surrounding the idea of any game modifications," he said.

Smedley is highly optimistic for the studio's future, particularly in its fervent belief in the free-to-play business model: "We think that 'Free to Play, Your Way' is our future. Giving players choices is the theme of how we're moving forward as a company, which means greater flexibility for our player base."

SOE's John Smedley expresses regrets over SWG mishaps originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combat-upgradecommunitycuf2pfree-to-playjohn-smedleynew-game-enhancementsngeplayersregretssmedsmedleysoesony-online-entertainmentspace-combatstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgWed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: December 11-17, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/global-chat-december-11-17-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/global-chat-december-11-17-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/global-chat-december-11-17-2011/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Massively Meta, Global Chat, Miscellaneous

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

It was a crazy busy week with so much to talk about, and while we could go all over the map with reader comments, we're going to focus on one last goodbye today. Follow along after the break for our readers' fondest farewells to Star Wars Galaxies.

Continue reading Global Chat: December 11-17, 2011

Global Chat: December 11-17, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerynnebasmatijohcommenterscommentsfeaturedglentendoglobal-chatjealouspirateopinionrick1975soeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgSun, 18 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: One last jump to lightspeed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/some-assembly-required-one-last-jump-to-lightspeed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/some-assembly-required-one-last-jump-to-lightspeed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/some-assembly-required-one-last-jump-to-lightspeed/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox

Star Wars Galaxies - Tatooine twin sunset

Eulogizing Star Wars Galaxies is difficult. In fact, I've written some 2,200 articles since signing on with Massively a couple of years ago, and none of them has come close to being as painful as this particular wall o' text.

The fact that I even used the word eulogy in reference to a video game says it all, really. Join me after the cut for as brief a remembrance as I can manage.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: One last jump to lightspeed

Some Assembly Required: One last jump to lightspeed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingcraftingeconomyeuologyfeaturedgame-closinghousingopinionplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsci-fiserver-closingserver-shutdownshutdownsoesome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmosunsetswgtradeskillingwe-will-miss-you-swgFri, 16 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How will you say farewell to SWG?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-daily-grind-how-will-you-say-farewell-to-swg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-daily-grind-how-will-you-say-farewell-to-swg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-daily-grind-how-will-you-say-farewell-to-swg/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Events (Real-World), Events (In-Game), MMO Industry, Star Wars Galaxies, Massively Meta, The Daily Grind, Events (Massively's Coverage), Miscellaneous, Sandbox

Star Wars Galaxies screenshot

Star Wars Galaxies' final day is here. Since last June's announcement that SOE's Star Wars game would be shut down on December 15th, the sandbox fans on the Massively staff have grown ever more sad, and the early arrival of Star Wars: The Old Republic has seemed like salt in the wound. For my part, I can hardly stand to log in without lamenting all the MMO design achievements that will be lost when the servers go dark.

And yet log in I will because a game only has one ending. Some of our writers will be chronicling the last hour on a livestream; others will be hanging out in social centers like Mos Eisley to watch the twin suns set. I'm planning to join a few guildmates near the location of our first guild city, formed just over eight years ago. What about you, readers? Where will you be at the end -- how will you say farewell to SWG?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: How will you say farewell to SWG? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmogalaxiesopinionsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindThu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: SWG housing extravaganza]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/some-assembly-required-swg-housing-extravaganza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/some-assembly-required-swg-housing-extravaganza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/some-assembly-required-swg-housing-extravaganza/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox

Some Assembly Required header

The sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies. Beyond the obvious, that statement holds more meaning for me, something deeper and more personal. See, throughout my years in SWG, I would often stop whatever I was doing just to sit and watch the Tatooine suns set. Honestly. Just a simple act of sitting upon the plateau -- sometimes alone, sometimes with friends -- quietly watching one of the universe's greatest pleasures inside an MMO. It was amazing to me how vibrant this galaxy was, filled with so many little details that breathed life into it in a way that I think is still unmatched. Details such as sunsets made the world real, but what really made it "home" was the housing.

Few, if any, games can claim the mastery of housing that Galaxies attained. Quite frankly, it is still the standard by which I measure housing. And there is almost no way to sum it up and do it justice in one short article. Despite this challenge, Some Assembly Required dedicates this 12th issue to immortalizing (and hopefully prodding future developers to emulate) one of the greatest housing systems ever and highlighting the very thing that made this great feature phenomenal: incredible player ingenuity and creativity.

But don't just take my word for it. A number of readers joined in and sent in screenshots of and waypoints to these expressions of creativity. So step on over the threshold for our tribute in word and image to SWG housing and the player creativity it engendered.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: SWG housing extravaganza

Some Assembly Required: SWG housing extravaganza originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-buildingcreativitydecoratingfeaturedgalleriesgalleryhouseshousinghousing-tourpgcplayer-creativityplayer-generated-contentsandboxscreenshotscreenshotssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmosunsetswgswg-sunsettourFri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pix or it didn't happen: Calling for your SWG house screenies!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/pix-or-it-didnt-happen-calling-for-your-swg-house-screenies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/pix-or-it-didnt-happen-calling-for-your-swg-house-screenies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/pix-or-it-didnt-happen-calling-for-your-swg-house-screenies/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Culture, Star Wars Galaxies, Massively Meta

Star Wars Galaxies -- Bree's old Bio-Engineer

In exactly one month, the Star Wars Galaxies servers will be shut down forever, but that doesn't mean your creations have to be sunsetted along with them. MJ Guthrie, the co-author of our biweekly sandbox column, Some Assembly Required, is hoping to immortalize the niftiest player-decorated SWG houses, but she needs your help to do it.

If you'd like to pitch in and make sure that SWG's amazing housing mechanics aren't lost to time, just email screenshots of your favorite homes and player-run cities to MJ (mj@massively.com). If you haven't got screenies, a waypoint or coordinates (and the planet and server name) will work just as well, assuming you've unlocked the building(s) for visitors. She's also open to taking a personal tour! The December 9th edition of the column will feature the highlights along with a gallery of all the submissions.

As MJ herself posted: "Don't miss out on being a part of this housing extravaganza! Something so great deserves to be savored for a long, long time to come."

Pix or it didn't happen: Calling for your SWG house screenies! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>citiescitygalleriesgalleryhousehouseshousingmj-guthriepix-or-it-didnt-happenplayer-run-citiesplayer-run-cityscreenshotscreenshotssoesome-assembly-requiredSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgTue, 15 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Video, Dark Age of Camelot, EverQuest, Culture, Star Wars Galaxies, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous

SWG

Today we're going to start a new feature of this column in which we devote a week to catching up with previous Game Archaeologist spotlights and see what's going on in these classic MMOs. I figured that it was a shame to give these titles a big burst of publicity and then dump them like yesterday's news. After all, if these games' communities are still alive and kicking, and if the developers are churning out new content, then it's worth a monthly mention, don't you think?

I won't just be regurgitating news here; I'll also peek at the various official forums to see what the community is talking about and highlight discussions and debates that are of interest. Not every classic MMO will be featured every month in this space, as I'll try to rotate around to make sure they all get their fair share of mentions.

October was an interesting month for classic MMOs in that several of them produced extremely newsworthy stories that got front-page mention on Massively. On a special note, I won't be covering Asheron's Call today as we're prepping a special anniversary tribute for later this month!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October

The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daocdark-age-of-cameloteqeq2eqiieverquesteverquest-iifeaturedhalloweenmoviepumpkin-moon-risingscott-jenningssoestar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtgathe-game-archaeologistveil-of-alarisTue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Winning the Star Wars Galaxies GCW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/winning-the-star-wars-galaxies-gcw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/winning-the-star-wars-galaxies-gcw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/winning-the-star-wars-galaxies-gcw/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, PvP, News Items, Star Wars Galaxies, Dev Diaries, Sandbox

SWG screenshot

We sometimes joke about the impossibility of "winning" an MMO, but in the case of the doomed Star Wars Galaxies sandbox, it's an impending reality.

A brand-new dev post today divulges the details of how the Galactic Civil War that's been raging across the game's servers for the last eight-plus years will be won. In short: "Whoever controls the galaxy at the end will win the war." The Rebels-vs.-Imperials PvP conflict will be settled through the existing planetary control system, in which each side vies for control over key cities on most of the game's planets. The team plans to tweak that system, weighting contributions and important regions to ensure that cheating and early landslide victories are simply not possible. As Mepps himself notes, "a smaller faction fighting smarter still has as much of a chance as a larger faction that assumes it will win." He also promises additional events and methods of GCW point gain as the finale approaches.

Star Wars Galaxies is due to close down mid-December, so players have only a few months left to save or dominate the galaxy once and for all.

Winning the Star Wars Galaxies GCW originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>galactic-civil-wargcwgcw-pointsimperialsmeppsplanetary-control-systempvprebelssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgThu, 06 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Roleplaying, Humor, Sandbox

Star Wars Galaxies - Butterflies included especially for Jef

When SOE announced that Star Wars Galaxies would be sunsetted by the end of the year, many players despaired. They gave up. They saw their long years (eight years!) of play turn to dust. But others looked on the impending closure as incentive to do all those things they'd been putting off, all the activities they just hadn't gotten around to. There hadn't been time. The game is too big for anyone to do it all.

And that's precisely why Star Wars Galaxies is a legend among sandbox fans despite the NGE disaster. It's a living museum of great MMO ideas from the past, of player-driven economies, of open-world housing, of high-end, game-supported roleplay, of roaming in a game that lets you dictate the terms of your play. It's a rare relic you should see in the flesh, today, right now, before it's gone. You can pick up a weapon and fight in any MMO (excepting A Tale in the Desert, that is), but there are so many things you can do in Star Wars Galaxies that you can't do anywhere else with the same level of immersion. And I'm going to tell you which 10 you should do first... before it's too late.

Continue reading Ten things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone

Ten things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tabappearance-tabarmoratabatmospheric-flightcantinachat-bubbleschronicleschronicles-systemcityclothingcosmetic-outfitcraftingdanceremoteentertainerfeaturedhistoryhousehousingimage-designerinstrumentithorianjtljump-to-lightspeedmayormoodsmusicianngeopen-world-housingpilotplayer-cityplayer-run-cityroleplayroleplayingsandboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-warsy-and-iconicstarshipsunsetswgswtorthe-old-republictortradervendorWed, 05 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the rails: Star Wars Galaxies introduces atmospheric flight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/off-the-rails-star-wars-galaxies-introduces-atmospheric-flight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/off-the-rails-star-wars-galaxies-introduces-atmospheric-flight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/off-the-rails-star-wars-galaxies-introduces-atmospheric-flight/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Star Wars Galaxies, Sandbox

Star Wars Galaxies screenshot

If you're still on the fence about reactivating Star Wars Galaxies in order to participate in the sunset events from now until December 15th, today's news just might push you over to the dark side... er light side. One of those!

This morning, Sony Online Entertainment published Game Update 21, the highlight of which is atmospheric flight. For real.

With atmospheric flight, you will be able to travel the skies above and see the worlds of Star Wars Galaxies in a new way. To launch into atmospheric flight, or to return to the ground, you can use your ship's icon in your datapad. Whether you are looking to host a peaceful event in your yacht with the Theed Waterfall as a backdrop or prove your piloting skills against another player over the desert of Tatooine, atmospheric flight will offer a unique way to experience Star Wars Galaxies.

The patch notes indicate that players can launch directly into space while piloting through planetary atmosphere, and you'll need some skill to navigate as ships will take damage if crashed into the ground. GU21 also heralds the "Final Battle," which presumably is another stage in the ongoing Galactic Civil War sunset events.

Remember, today is literally your last chance to reactivate and give the game a proper send-off.

Off the rails: Star Wars Galaxies introduces atmospheric flight originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atmospheric-flightflightgalactic-civil-wargame-updategcwgu21patchshipssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstarshipsunsetsunset-eventsswgupdateThu, 15 Sep 2011 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Last chance to join Star Wars Galaxies sunset]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/last-chance-to-join-star-wars-galaxies-sunset/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/last-chance-to-join-star-wars-galaxies-sunset/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/last-chance-to-join-star-wars-galaxies-sunset/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, MMO Industry, Star Wars Galaxies, Massively Meta, Trading Card Games, Sandbox

Star Wars Galaxies screenshot

In June, we broke the sad news that Star Wars Galaxies would be shutting down this December. But if you were hoping to check out one of the best sandbox MMOs in existence before the final curtain falls, you're running out of time.

According to Sony Online Entertainment, only accounts that are active and in good standing on September 15th will be eligible for the sunset period and events, so if you want to play, you'll have to plan ahead and reactivate your account one last time to make sure your account is active on Thursday. After that, your account will remain active for free until December 15th, when the galaxies are closed down for the last time. Confused? Mepps on the official forums has an even more detailed explanation for all the caveats and what-ifs you can dream up.

Players meeting the criterion will also find that their accounts are flagged for free access to other SOE games (including EverQuest II and DC Universe Online) from October 15th to the end of the year, further sweetening the deal.

Finally, although the SWG TCG will remain in operation as long as the game does, loot cards cease being redeemable after September 15th, so grab your free loot cards while you still can!

Last chance to join Star Wars Galaxies sunset originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountaccountsdc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeqiiEverQuest-2everquest-iigame-closuremeppssandboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtcgtrading-card-gameWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies puts the end of the saga in the hands of the players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/star-wars-galaxies-puts-the-end-of-the-saga-in-the-hands-of-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/star-wars-galaxies-puts-the-end-of-the-saga-in-the-hands-of-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/star-wars-galaxies-puts-the-end-of-the-saga-in-the-hands-of-the/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Events (In-Game), Star Wars Galaxies

Star Wars Galaxies

This is how the galaxy ends: not with a wimper, but with a mighty bang.

At least, that's what SOE hopes as Star Wars Galaxies' devs map out the final few months for this sunsetting MMO. Instead of weeping into a glass of strange blue milk, the team is issuing a challenge to the Imperials or Rebels. The stakes? The fate of the galaxy, once and for all.

SOE is ramping up the Galactic Civil War in the game, by adding new events and opportunities to win points for your respective side. The Civil War got a little bigger with the recent GU20 update that put the war footing on an interplanetary scale.

At some point before the December 15th shutdown, the game will tally up the score and determine who won -- for all time. Depending on which side comes out victorious, the ending of the game itself will change. If you're a neutral party, don't worry; SOE is making sure that you can participate in shutdown events as well.

Take note, as only players that subscribe or have an account in good standing prior to September 15th can participate in this final battle, since registration -- and game charges -- will cease after that date.

Star Wars Galaxies puts the end of the saga in the hands of the players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancellationcivil-wardamn-neutralseventgalactic-civil-wargu20imperialsin-game-eventrebelsshutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsettingswgMon, 29 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Sunsetting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/one-shots-sunsetting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/one-shots-sunsetting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/one-shots-sunsetting/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Screenshots, Star Wars Galaxies, One Shots

Yavin IV was always one of my favorite planets to visit in Star Wars Galaxies. Especially when you would hit just the right time of day to see the gigantic planet of Yavin hovering in the sky. I caught this screenshot as I was on my way to the Jedi Temple on the jungle world. With the news of the Galaxies shutting down, this screenshot has become a bit mournful for me now. It reminds me of a sunset. It you'd like to celebrate the sunset of SWG with me, I'll be on the Starsider server on Aerron in the evenings EDT.

All this week, Massively writers are spotlighting some of our personal One Shots. What exciting stories revolve around our screenshots? Stay tuned to find out. Next week, after staff picks week, will be free-for-all week for you, our readers. Send any eye-catching, beautiful, scary, or generally epic screenshot to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll pick the best of the best for One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

One Shots: Sunsetting originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>one-shotsSOESonySony-Online-EntertainmentStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsettingYavinYavin-4Yavin-IVMon, 18 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Smedley on the sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/exclusive-smedley-on-the-sunsetting-of-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/exclusive-smedley-on-the-sunsetting-of-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/exclusive-smedley-on-the-sunsetting-of-star-wars-galaxies/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Events (Real-World), Interviews, MMO Industry, Star Wars Galaxies, Trading Card Games, Interviews (Massively's)

When I penned this week's Soapbox about Star Wars Galaxies and the NGE, I had no idea what was in store for MMO gamers today. In fact, I was so confident that the pre-eminent MMO sandbox was going to be around forever (or at least another eight years) that I reassured commenters that there was no need to fear Star Wars: The Old Republic. The two games might both feature the Star Wars IP, but their goals are so dramatically different -- one being a dialogue-driven themepark, the other being a player-driven sandbox -- that they shouldn't conflict unduly. Surely Star Wars fans could play both indefinitely and enjoy both types of gameplay.

Unfortunately, on Thursday we learned that just won't be so. Sony Online Entertainment has announced that Star Wars Galaxies will be shutting down on December 15th of this year, marking what is in my mind the most significant sunset of a major MMO to date (and a personally painful one for many on the staff at Massively, including me). I know what you're thinking, and no, the impending closure is due neither to the hackings nor to a dwindling playerbase. Past the break, an audibly regretful John Smedley, President of SOE, sits down with us to chat about SWG's sunset, explaining the reasons that led to the decision and offering a new hope for the future.

Continue reading Exclusive: Smedley on the sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies [Updated]

Exclusive: Smedley on the sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebreakingchroniclesClone-Wars-AdventurescwaeaElectronic-Artseq2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedgalaxiesinterviewinterviewsjohn-smedleylucasartssandboxsmedleysoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstorytellersunsetswgswtortcgthe-old-republictortrading-card-gameFri, 24 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wake Up: The final day of The Matrix Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/wake-up-the-final-day-of-the-matrix-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/wake-up-the-final-day-of-the-matrix-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/wake-up-the-final-day-of-the-matrix-online/#commentsFiled under: At a glance, Sci-Fi, Screenshots, Culture, Events (In-Game), The Matrix Online, Events (Massively's Coverage)

Like we said in our article before, "...until everyone's RSI is smashed into a tiny, tiny ball." Now you see that we really weren't joking about that.

But we were in The Matrix Online for the final hours as well, and we managed to get some great screenshots from the end of the game. There were explosions, lightning bolts, oddly colored skies until finally.... in the last few hours... it became beautiful again. The green skies were rolled back in favor of a blue sky tinged with hints of red. Then, of course, we all got our plugs pulled and ended up smashed into... well... you know.

If you're interested in how it all looked before everything crashed, check out what we got to see during our final moments!

The Last Day of Matrix Online>>

Gallery: The Matrix Online: Wake Up

Login

Corruption

Raining Blood

Dark Sky with Eyes

Club Hel

Wake Up: The final day of The Matrix Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gallerygame-closuremxoscreenshotsserver-crashsoesony-online-entertainmentsunsetthe-matrix-onlineSat, 01 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Culture, Events (In-Game), MMO Industry, The Matrix Online, News Items, Opinion, Roleplaying, Virtual Worlds, Anti-Aliased

My personal favorite moment? Past attending a few of the Merovingian's parties (being a faction leader in the organization certainly qualifies you for the guest list), it had to have been investigating into the street magician, Cryptos. Cryptos appeared in the Mega City with a bang, placing "Cryptos coffins" all over the city as he popped out of them at certain intervals to speak riddles to players. As I attended one of the coffins for its speech, the clacking of heels turned my attention over my shoulder, my camera falling onto Niobe walking down the street towards me.

She commented that she was surprised that I actually found my way down a street without falling over in a drunken stupor, while I smirked and laughed. Soon afterwards, a whole vanguard of Zionist players showed up, backing up Niobe with guns -- lots of guns.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you right here, *Lady* Return." She mocked. That would be when I pulled out the three best words in the Merovingian organization arsenal.

"You owe me. I helped you in the church at the funeral. You cannot neglect your debt, Niobe," I replied with a strong smile. She acted taken aback and motioned to the others behind her. The players all lowered their guns and shot me angry looks, to which I shrugged happily and laughed.

In no other game could social combat be as effective as physical combat. You didn't always have to shoot your way out of a situation if you knew the right people... or just paid enough of them.

An MMO not all about combat? Lies!

Certainly the combat of MxO was awesome. You had great martial arts combat, you had insane wire-fu moves, and you even had bullet time. (It would basically slow down on your screen just long enough to show you some great action, then it would speed up again to match up with the action that had gone on while you were slowed down.)

But some of the real charm of the game came in the fact that puzzles were hidden inside of it. Billboards, the newspaper, and even specially constructed events started by a simple forum post or a simple tell from a character lead into stories told in live action.

The game had elements of collaborative puzzle solving, social tension started by organizational warfare, and a driving sense of community that no other game that I've played since has come close to having. People were there to really interact with the world, not just hit level 50 and grind their faces on endgame.

Hopes for the future

It's sad to see this game go, but I have the strong personal opinion that this game did not die because it embraced different styles of gameplay. It died because it stopped embracing them.

What MxO was offering players no other game offered. If there had been more polish to the static content and the developers would have stayed on their path of dynamic storytelling, I think this game would certainly would have continued on with a loyal fanbase because it would have offered gameplay that no other mainstream MMO to date has embraced.

And, with any luck, perhaps we'll see another attempt at this universe in the future. Look at what we have with two Star Wars MMOs coming out. The potential is still there for a great Matrix Online game.

With all of this though, thank you developers for all of your work, and thank you Sony Online Entertainment for keeping it up as long as you did. While I may not agree with all of the decisions surrounding the game, the effort was still there to keep the game alive for as long as it was.

Everything that has a beginning has an end.

Colin Brennan is the weekly writer of Anti-Aliased who hates aimless hate. When he's not writing here for Massively, he's rambling on his personal blog, The Experience Curve. If you want to message him, send him an e-mail at colin.brennan AT weblogsinc DOT com. You can also follow him on Twitter through Massively, or through his personal feed.

Anti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedcryptoslive-event-characterslive-eventsmatrix-onlinemerovingianmorpheusmxonioberoleplayroleplayingsoesony-online-entertainmentstorylinesunsetthe-matrix-onlinezionFri, 29 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Why must MMOs die?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/the-digital-continuum-why-must-mmos-die/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/the-digital-continuum-why-must-mmos-die/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/the-digital-continuum-why-must-mmos-die/#commentsFiled under: MMO Industry, Opinion, Tabula Rasa, The Digital Continuum

Sitting on my desk are copies of Earth and Beyond and Auto Assault. In fact, I've even got a CE box for Auto Assault (that thing cost me 80 bucks). Unfortunately, these games are just dust collectors now. I keep them to remind me of the possibility of sunset and how much it can suck. Even if you didn't play Tabula Rasa, there were thousands of people who did, and that's all that really matters

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Why must MMOs die?

The Digital Continuum: Why must MMOs die? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-assaultcity-of-heroescohcrypticdestination-gameseaearth-and-beyondfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesncsoftncsoft-norcalnetdevilsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsettingswgtabula-rasawestwoodSat, 22 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Sunset in the Commonlands]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/25/one-shots-sunset-in-the-commonlands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/25/one-shots-sunset-in-the-commonlands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/25/one-shots-sunset-in-the-commonlands/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Screenshots, EverQuest II, One Shots

Here's a game we don't see very often, which is rather surprising as I think it's really a lovely-looking game. This One Shots comes to us courtesy of Istar, who plays a Fury on the Blackburrow server in EverQuest II. As he says, he was running through the Commonlands, enjoying a sunset and decided to share with us. It certainly is very pretty!

Do you have a place that makes you stop to enjoy the scenery while passing by? Perhaps you just like the architecture that the game designers dreamed up? Whatever your reason, we'd love to see your screenshots! Just mail them to us at oneshots@massively.com. Your image could be the next one up!

Gallery: One Shots

One Shots: Sunset in the Commonlands originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commonlandseq2eqiieverquest-iifeaturedone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotssoesunsetMon, 25 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST